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Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski expressed optimism Wednesday about growing bipartisan support in Congress for legislation calling for incentive auctions of broadcast TV spectrum for wireless use. Speaking at the International CES, he cited a group of four senators -- two Democrats and two Republicans -- who warned the House against putting limits on the FCC's ability to hold the auctions.

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Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler has told a group of lawmakers why it is important to ensure that small carriers can compete with the top telecoms through guaranteed access to lower-frequency airwaves in the planned wireless incentive auction. In a letter, Wheeler responded to a plea from 78 House Democrats to allow unlimited bidding on the spectrum. The FCC might have to revisit the auction rules if Sprint and T-Mobile US merge, according to Reuters.

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski, who announced his departure this past week, said "unleashing the benefits of broadband" has been the "highest priority" of his tenure. Genachowski also said he was pleased with the progress in setting up the framework for incentive spectrum auctions. "Things have moved much faster than anyone would have thought, and much more has gotten done than anyone would have predicted," he said. "Having said that, there are challenges ahead, and they will be with us for a very long time."

Senators grilled members of the Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday about the fate of planned incentive auctions, reflecting some concern about speculation that Chairman Julius Genachowski will leave the FCC. The spectrum auctions -- which call for the reassignment of 60MHz to 80MHz of broadcast frequency for commercial mobile services -- are being finalized, but some lawmakers worry that if Genachowski leaves the FCC the process could stall.

House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton accused the Federal Communications Commission of a power grab, after agency head Julius Genachowski urged that legislation leave the FCC latitude to run spectrum incentive auctions. Genachowski's remarks came at the Consumer Electronics Show last week in Las Vegas, where he appeared critical of a House bill that ties the agency's hands. Responded Upton: "Bluster aside, it sounds like we have a federal agency more concerned about preserving its own power than offering serious improvements as we prepare to finalize this legislation."

AT&T on Friday pushed back against Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski's defense last week of the agency's authority in doling out wireless spectrum. The carrier issued a statement that took issue with Genachowski for endorsing legislation that would maintain the FCC's authority over the conduct of spectrum auctions. "For the FCC to assert in the name of 'fostering competition' that it should have final say on which companies can bid on spectrum is for them to engage in picking winners and losers," said Jim Cicconi, an AT&T senior vice president, adding that Congress, rather than the FCC, should establish the auction rules.